Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has lost yet another jury trial over talcum powder claims involving a woman that developed ovarian cancer after using the product as directed. This marks the sixth loss for the company of such claims. The jury awarded a total of $110 million to the plaintiff, Lois Slemp, divided as $5.4 million for compensatory damages and another $105 million in punitive damages to punish J&J for its negligence. An additional $50,000 punitive damage liability was assigned to Imerys Talc America, the company that provides J&J with its talcum powder. This is the largest talc powder verdict result so far.
Slemp’s complaint was pushed to the front of a long queue of talc powder lawsuits since her health is currently in decline. The ovarian cancer she developed after using J&J talcum powder products for decades has spread to her liver.
Despite a spokeswoman from J&J giving a statement of sympathy to women across America with ovarian cancer, it was not a statement of liability. The company is expected to try to appeal this verdict, fighting to have it reversed or the award minimized. A spokeswoman for Imerys gave a more pointed response that claimed plaintiff verdicts in talcum powder cases actually hurt efforts to find a cure for ovarian cancer since, in her opinion, talc powder is not a contributing factor of the disease.
The legal counsel representing Slemp in this latest case once again leaned on the argument that J&J was willingly ignorant of the dangers talcum powder create when used on genitalia, as the product claims is safe. There was also a new argument brought to the courtroom: that the talc powder supplied to J&J was laced with trace amounts of asbestos. It is not clear if these claims can be substantiated.
Have you or a loved one developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson talcum powder as a product for feminine hygiene care? You might have a talc powder claim of your own. Talk to Christian & Christian and our Greenville product liability attorneys today about your legal options. If you would like to get a free consultation to start, just dial 864.408.8890.